Gastroenteritis is an inflammatory disease in which the stomach and small intestine are affected. If pathological processes affect the large intestine, in this case the disease is called gastroenterocolitis.
The development of gastroenteritis can be associated with food poisoning, infection with bacteria and viruses, the use of poor-quality water, poisoning with acids, alkalis, heavy metals, mercury preparations, etc. The disease occurs in acute and chronic form. Consider what are the symptoms of different forms of gastroenteritis in adults.
Signs of viral gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis of the viral etiology is often called intestinal flu. The viruses that provoke the disease destroy the cells of the epithelium of the stomach and small intestine, as a result of which the absorption of carbohydrates and a number of other nutrients is impaired. There is no specific causative agent for viral gastroenteritis. In most cases, it is caused by two types of viruses:
- caliciviruses (in particular, noroviruses);
- rotaviruses (children are more often infected).
To spread the virus infection can contact-household, food and water ways. An airborne transmission path is also possible. The source of calicivirus infection can be domestic animals (cats, dogs), poorly processed seafood. Rotaviruses are more often transmitted through the use of contaminated dairy products and water.
After contact with norovirus, as a rule, the symptoms appear within 24 - 48 hours and last about 24 - 60 hours. Characteristic features are:
- diarrhea;
- vomiting (less often);
- nausea;
- stomach ache;
- loss of taste sensitivity (sometimes).
Also can be observed:
- lethargy;
- drowsiness;
- muscle pain;
- weak fever.
The incubation period of rotavirus infection is 1-5 days, the period of manifestation of symptoms is 3-7 days. Rotavirus gastroenteritis begins acutely, symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of strength are observed. The stool on day 2-3 of the disease is characterized as clayey, gray-yellow. In addition, patients may have a runny nose, redness, and sore throat. In some cases, rotovirus gastroenteritis in adults is asymptomatic.
Symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis is caused by the following bacteria:
- staphylococci;
- salmonella;
- shigella;
- E. coli;
- cholera vibrio;
- sticks of botulism;
- protey and others.
Infection can occur contact-household, food and waterways. Most often the incubation period for bacterial gastroenteritis lasts from 3 to 5 days. Symptoms depend on the type of bacteria that caused the lesion. The main signs of this disease are as follows:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- colic and abdominal pain;
- loss of appetite;
- increase in body temperature (with cholera, the temperature is normal);
- symptoms of dehydration.
Symptoms of non-infectious gastroenteritis
Non-infectious gastroenteritis can occur due to overeating (especially rough and spicy food), allergies to food and medicine, poisoning with non-bacterial poisonous substances (poisonous mushrooms, fish, stone fruit, etc.).
Manifestations of gastroenteritis of non-infectious nature are as follows:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- abdominal pain, worse with pressure;
- general weakness;
- cold sweat .
Symptoms of Chronic Gastroenteritis
The development of chronic gastroenteritis may be due to:
- excessive consumption of alcohol, spicy foods;
- allergic reactions;
- parasitic infections;
- industrial hazards, etc.
This type of pathology characterizes the constant presence of such signs:
- feeling of heaviness, raspiraniya and pain in the stomach;
- rumbling in the abdomen;
- frequent stools (urges immediately after eating);
- increased gassing;
- irritability, anxiety.